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Introduction

The
tundra is an area of treeless, level or rolling ground found in cold regions. It accounts for roughly 10 percent of Earth’s surface. The two major tundra zones are the Arctic tundra, found mostly north of the Arctic Circle, and the alpine tundra, located above the timberline on high mountains (seeArctic regions). The Finns called the treeless northern reaches of Lapland the tunturi, but the concept of a vast frozen plain as a special ecological realm called tundra was developed by the Russians.

Distribution and Climate

The Arctic tundra lies in northern Europe, Russia, the United States (in Alaska), Canada, and Greenland. Alpine tundras lie farther south than Arctic tundras, although they exist mostly in the Northern Hemisphere. This habitat is found in mountainous areas, occurring at high elevations where temperatures are too low and winds are too strong for the growth of trees. The tundra biome is known for large stretches of bare ground and rock and for patchy areas of low vegetation such as mosses, lichens, herbs, and small shrubs.

Tundra climates vary considerably. The most severe occur in the Arctic regions, where temperatures fluctuate from about 40 °F (4 °C) in midsummer to –25 °F (–32 °C) during the winter months. Alpine tundra has a more moderate climate: summers are cool, with temperatures that range from 37 to 54 °F (3 to 12 °C), and winters are moderate, with temperatures that rarely fall below 0 °F (–18 °C).

One constant factor shaping the tundra is a pattern of freezing and thawing of the ground. This freeze-thaw cycle sets the tundra apart from two ecosystems frequently found adjacent to it—the icy polar barrens and the evergreen boreal forest. Permafrost—perennially frozen ground—is a significant feature of the Arctic tundra; however, it does not typically occur in alpine regions.

Plants and Animals

The vegetation of many alpine tundras and over most of the Arctic tundra tends to be greenish brown in color. Plants do not remain in flower for more than a few days or weeks in these environments. The foggy tundras found along coastal areas produce matted and grassy landscapes. Algae and fungi are found along rocky cliffs, and rosette plants grow in rock cornices and shallow gravel beds. In higher mountains, having much snow, ice, and exposed rock, lichens and mosses manage to grow on rocks. In the drier inland tundras, spongy turf and lichen heaths develop.

Small mammals of the Arctic tundra tend to be numerous because of their high reproductive rates. Lemmings, for example, reach a population peak every three to five years in some regions. When their populations increase, so do the populations of animals that prey upon them, such as jaegers (seabirds), snowy owls, and foxes. Large herbivores in the Arctic tundra include the reindeer of Eurasia and North America (where they are known as caribou) and the musk ox of Greenland and some Canadian Arctic islands. Large predatory animals include polar bears, brown bears, and wolves.

Migratory animals proliferate in the alpine tundras. These include mountain sheep, ibex, chamois, several wildcats, and many birds. Mountain goats spend noticeably more time at higher elevations in alpine tundras in winter. Marmots, ground squirrels, and jumping mice are common hibernating animals. Other small mammals inhabiting alpine tundras include pikas, voles, and rabbits.

Humans and Climate Change

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Earth’s
tundra regions are harsh and remote, so fewer humans have settled there than in other environments. People have, however, changed the landscape through the building of houses and other structures—including ski resorts—as well as through the development of mines and roads. Hunting, oil drilling, and other activities have polluted the tundra environment and have threatened wildlife in tundra ecosystems. Environmental scientists are concerned that the continued expansion of these activities, along with the release of air pollutants that deplete the ozone layer and greenhouse gases that hasten climate change, have begun to affect the integrity and sustainability of Arctic and alpine tundra ecosystems.

Scientists, policy makers, and the public have expressed concerns about global warming in the tundra regions. Global warming has already produced detectable changes in both Arctic and alpine tundra ecosystems. Nonnative tree species are invading northward from the forest belt, and coastal areas are being affected by sea-level rise. Both phenomena are reducing the geographic area of the Arctic tundra. Other changes occurring in both Arctic and alpine tundras include increased shrub density, an earlier spring thaw and a later autumn freeze, and diminished habitats for native animals.

The rapid melting of sea ice is also spurring ongoing changes in the Arctic. Without summer ice, the existing warming trend in the Arctic tundra—as well as in the rest of the world—would increase, because sea ice reflects sunlight better than the open ocean and, therefore, has a cooling effect on the atmosphere. An ice-free Arctic Ocean would leave the high northern latitudes vulnerable to development of recreational and industrial activities; this increased human presence would likely place additional stress on tundra plants and animals. In alpine tundras, too, climate warming could encourage more human activity and increase damage to plant and animal populations there.

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